Seed feeding device



July 18, 1950 c. A. LOUCKS 2,515,351

SEED FEEDING DEVICE Filed April 13, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR C. H..Louc]cs ATTORNEYS July 18, 1950 c. A. LoucKs 2,515,351

SEED FEEDING DEVICE Filed April 13, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ////AI7/// d7////// W/l/l/l/l/l/ //////////I7 INVENTOR. Cfiiloucks ETTYS Patented July 18, 1950 SEED FEEDING DEVICE Claude A. Loucks, Solano County, Calif., assignor of one-half to Albert M. J ongeneel Application April 13, 1946, Serial No. 662,021

This invention relates in general to improvements in seed planters.

In particular the present invention is directed to, and features, a'novelseed feeding device for a planter of the type which plants seeds one at a time along a row and in predetermined spaced relation. I

This invention represents a modification of the seed feeding device shown in copending United States patent applicatioinSerial No. 608,152, on Seed Planter, which matured into Patent No. 2,503,828, granted April 11, 1950.

The seed feeding device here shown is simplifiedin structure, positive in operation, rugged, and practical; yet exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed' These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a seed planter embodying the seed feeding device. I

Fig. 2- is an enlarged transverse elevation, mainly in section, of the seed feeding device as cooperating with one of the seed tubes.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the feeding device as in use, and partly broken away.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the seed planting machine in connection with which the seed feeding device is used is here shown as comprising an arched main frame I provided at the forward end with a hitch 2 adapted for connection with a tractor in draft relation; said main 'frame being supported,,at the rear, by a transversely spaced pair of ground engaging wheels 3.

A longitudinally extendingsub-frame l is vertically adjustably suspended from the mainframe I by means of a suspension linkage assembly 5 which includes an upstanding hand lever 6. The lever 6 provides means whereby a sub-frame 4 may be vertically adjusted.

The sub-frame 4 is fitted at its forward end with a furrow opener I, and at its rear end with a furrow closing disc 8.

Intermediate its ends the sub-frame 4 supports an endless planting mechanism constructed as follows:

A pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending endless chains 9 are supported, at opposite ends, by transversely spaced frontsprockets In on a cross shaft II, and transversely spaced rear sprockets I2 on a cross shaft l 3. The

5 Claims. (Cl; 11189) 5 by an endless chain and sprocket unit 14 designed to drive the chains 9 at a speed such that the lower runs thereof move exactly at ground speed of the machine'but in an opposite direction.

At evenly spaced points the chains 9 are connected by cross bars I5, and each of said cross barsi's fitted, centrally of its end, with a radially outwardly projecting neck or seed tube I6; each seed tube including a funnel or chute l1 projecting in an opposite direction from the other side of the corresponding cross bar l5; i. e. in an upward direction when the tubes [6 are traveling with the lower run of the chain assembly. The seed tubes I6 are fitted on the outer end of each thereof with an outwarly projecting seed depositing shoe, indicated generally at l8. Each, such shoe is hollow, open at its inner end, pointed and normally, closed at its outer end, and formed of a pair of matching substantially half-round segments 19. The segments I9 are pivoted, at their inner ends, as at 29, to the outer end of the corresponding seed tube [6 for lateral swinging movement of said segments between closed position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, to the open position shown in dotted lines in said figure. The

segments I9 are normally held in closed position by compression springs 2|, which engage between the corresponding seed tube [6 and cam fingers 22'fixed on the inner ends of the segments I9 and projecting lengthwise thereof toward the chain assemblyr .When the segments I9 are closed, a seed retaining pocket 23 is formed in the outer end of each shoe.

The seed feeding device to which the instant invention is mainly directed is constructed and functions as follows:

A rigid supporting bracket 24 projects laterally inwardly from one side of the sub-frame 4 and is fitted, adjacent its inner end, with an upstanding center post 25; said center post being offset laterally from the longitudinal path of movement of the seed tubes I6, and in a horizontal plane mainly above the funnels or chutes II when the same are traveling with the lower run of the chain assembly.

The center post 25 is surrounded, in concentric relation, by an upstanding cylindrical container 26 which includes a removable cover plate 21 held in place on said container by a nut 28 threaded on a stud formed on the upper end of said'post. The bottom of the cylindrical container is a two-part arrangement, and comprises arotary feeder plate 29 surrounding the center post 25 in tumable, relation and resting on top cross shaft I3 is driven from one of the wheels of a base plate 39 fixed in non-turnable relation Outwardly of the flange 33 the rotary feeder plate 29 is formed with a plurality of radially outwardly projecting, equally circumferentially' spaced driving lugs 34. Within the container 26, but in radial alinement withzthe :driving lugs 34, the rotary feeder plate ,29 islformed with a circular row of seed receiving openings 35; said openings being relatively 01058113013116 side wall of the container 26.

,The base plate is;-formedwithaisinglesome- .what'larger opening 3'6 therethroughzin position ttovbe:successively-.registeredlwith the seed receivingiopenings 3411412011 rotation 'ofethe feeder-plate .2-9; Additionally, the opening 36 iszdisposed so that the-funnelsor chutes I17 jpass directly a thereunder. Tothe sidekof each ,funnel or -chute -l:'| nop- ,positethe; bracket 243each;crossbar;is sfitted with :anzupstandin actuating finger-31..

ing then moves from a position ahead of the opening 36 to-register "with the latter and passes the same to come-to rest again out of register with said opening 36. "The 'openings'35 of the rotary feeder plate 29 always'have'a, seed therein: from the container 26;;which container isfllled with seeds. ThlJS Wlth each step-gby-steprotative movement of-the feeder plate 19 into and then out of register with the opening 36, .by' passage of an actuating'finger 37 as described, one

.seed "falls through "the openingfifi and into the then passing funnel'or chute H. In this'manner aseed is fedinto and passes'downwardly'through each'seed tube [6 as the latter travels beneath the seed feeding 'unit.

jWhen a seed is delivered into aseed tube it it falls into the seed ,pocket .23 of the corresponding shoe it. After a .seedis .deliveredvinto each shoe 1.8, as the'latter moves rearwardly with the lowerrun of the chain assembly, said shoes are opened at a predetermined point rearwardly of the seed feeding unit by .means of a camlrod assembly ,38 suspendednfrom the sub-frame t. The cam rod assembly, includes transversely spaced cam rods diverging lateraly outwardly from their forward ends, asshown, whereby when the shoes run through said camv assembly the cam fingers 22 are depressedlaterally inwardly, opening the shoe and permitting the seed to fall from the pocket 23 into the furrow. The cam fingers escape the camassembly 38 at its.rear en'd,'whereby said shoes again close for reception of an- 4 other seed when the shoes again pass beneath the seed feeding device.

The described seed feeding device provides an effective and practical means of delivering seeds one at a time into each shoe IS with passage of the latter along the lower run of the chain assembly, and ahead of the planting point.

From .l-the foregoing description it willlbe read- Lily seen that there has been. produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the ,devica-still-in practice such deviations therefrom *mayioeresoited to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the "appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which .Letters Patent are desired:

1. A seed feeding device for ,a see'djplanting 11nachine,-.comprising a support, an upstanding seed containermounte'd on the support including, abaseplat'ega; post upstanding centrally from the base plate .-in the container, a feeder plate rotatably mounted on the base plate and surrounding the post in the container and being :freely turnablelabouthsaid post, the feeder plate having a circumferential lrow'of spaced seed re- ,ceiVi-ng'openings therethrough, the base plate having a seed passage'opening therethrough with which thelopenings .of the -.rowsuccessively registerluponcrotation of thel feederlplataand means operativetolcause step by .step rotation of the latter to elfectsaidsuccessive registry of said openings; a stop .shoulder about the V-post above the-feederplate, and a .loaded compression spring surrounding the post .hetween the stop .shoulder and said feeder plate. v

2. A seed feeding device for .aseed planting vmachinecomprising asupport, a base plate fixed stationary on thesupport, aaiseed passage opening .in said tbasa plate, .an upstanding post fixed stationary withrespectrtossaid base plate, alfeeder plate mounted in face to face relation with the ,base (plate, saidfeeder :plate surrounding the post and being freely vrotatableabout saidpost means whereby said rfeeder plate .may .be rotated, the feeder plate having ,a circumferentially disposed row wofuspaced .seed receiving openings therein arranged to be brought successively intolregister with theaopening in the base plate with therotationof said feeder plate,.an upstanding fiangelon the feeder .plate .adjacent the outer ,periphery thereof, a seedcontainer shell mounted on the feeder plate and projecting inside said flange, a cover on theshelLQthe post projecting through said.-cover, means on the upper-end .of the post for securing the-cover .in .place on the shell, a

sleeve on the post .below :the cover, and a com- .pression. springinterposedbetween the sleeve and feeder plate.

3. In a seed planting mechanism which includes ,a supportingcframe .mounted for movev conveyor; ,affeedingfmeanscfor .depositinga seed in each shoe aslitpasses a point in its travel .along theframe, suchfeeding means comprising a -.containerffixed on the frame above the lower run of the (conveyor and adjacent said point, the container including a base plate having a single seed passage opening therethrough at said point, the shoes having upper open ends and such open ends passing successively under the opening as the shoes pass said point, the container further including a rotatable seed feeder plate mounted in face to face relation with the base plate and provided with a plurality of concentric seed receiving openings therethrough so disposed as to successively register with such single opening in the base plate with the rotation of said feeder plate, and means mounted on the conveyor and operatively connected with the feeder plate and effective to bring one of the openings in the feeder plate into register with the opening in the base plate simultaneously with the passing of a shoe thereunder whereby to feed a seed into the passing shoe.

4. In a seed planting mechanism which includes a supporting frame mounted for movement over the ground, an endless driven conveyor supported on the frame, the lower run of which conveyor moves in a direction opposite to that in which the frame moves, and a plurality of spaced seed depositing shoes mounted on the conveyor; a feeding means for depositing a seed in each shoe as it passes a point in its travel along the frame, such feeding means comprising a container fixed on the frame above the lower run of the conveyor and adjacent said point, the container including a base plate having a single seed passage opening therethrough at said point, the shoes having upper open ends and such open ends passing successively under the opening as the shoes pass said point, the container further including a, rotatable seed feeder plate mounted in face to face relation with the base plate and provided with a plurality of concentric seed receiving openings therethrough so disposed as to successively register with such single opening in the base plate with the rotation of said feeder plate, the periphery of said feeder plate projecting outside the container, a plurality of driving lugs equally spaced about the periphery of the feeder plate, and a finger supported from the conveyor adjacent each shoe and engageable with one of said lugs to move the feeder plate and bring one of the openings therein into register with the single opening in the base plate as the adjacent shoe moves under the said single opening.

5. In a seed planting mechanism which includes a supporting frame mounted for movement over the ground, an endless driven conveyor supported on the frame, the lower run of which conveyor moves in a direction opposite to that in which the frame moves, and a plurality of spaced seed depositing shoes mounted on the conveyor; a feeding means for depositing a seed in each shoe as it passes a point in its travel along the frame, such feeding means comprising a container fixed on the frame above the lower run of the conveyor and adjacent said point, the container including a base plate having a single seed passage opening therethrough at said point, the shoes having upper open ends and such open ends passing successively under the opening as the shoes pass said point, the container further including a rotatable seed feeder plate mounted in face to face relation with the base plate and provided with a plurality of concentric seed receiving openings therethrough so disposed as to successively register with such single opening in the base plate with the rotation of said feeder plate, the periphery of said feeder plate projecting outside the container, a plurality of driving lugs equally spaced about the periphery of the feeder plate, the driven conveyor comprising two spaced apart chains, a plurality of equally spaced cross bars supported across the chains, one shoe being supported on each cross bar, and an actuator finger on each cross bar positioned to engage and advance one of said lugs whereby to rotate the feeder plate and bring one of said openings therein into register with the single opening in the base plate as the adjacent shoe moves under said opening.

CLAUDE A. LOUCKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 254,444 Vogel et a1 Feb. 28, 1882 298,761 Lind May 20, 1884 361,463 Southwick Apr. 19, 1887 439,773 Cole Nov. 4, 1890 534,361 Courtney Feb. 19, 1895 631,358 Campbell Aug. 22, 1899 874,155 Beaman Dec. 17, 1907 1,105,075 Greene July 28, 1914 1,464,464 Wright Aug. 7, 1923 1,527,570 Morphew Feb. 24, 1925 1,802,273 Richards et a1 Apr. 21, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 530,439 Germany July 29, 1931 704,740 Germany Apr. 5, 1907 

